Matthiola incana

‘Pillow Talk’

HEAVENLY SCENTED STOCKS

Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’
HEAVENLY SCENTED STOCKS

The scent of matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ just sweeps you off your feet.

Heavenly sweet scent from waxy white blooms

These Heavenly Scented Stocks are different to the normal annual Stocks – with waxy white flowers, in both single and sometimes slightly semi-double petal formations.
But all emitting outstanding fragrance – sweet, spicy and all pervading, with a hint of cloves so it is not cloying, though ever so intense.
The simple white blooms fade to soft pink, creating a haze of gentle colour all over the plant.

Blooms all summer long and into autumn

Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ rewards for month after month over the warm parts of the year, with a continuous procession of these delightful flowers through late spring, summer and well into autumn.

Just a few stems will scent a whole room

The flowers are heavenly to cut and bring indoors for a vase, as just a clutch of stems will scent the whole room with that bewitching fragrance.

Beloved by florists & brides for bouquets & arrangements

Florists adore stems of Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ for bouquets and arrangements.
Particularly for bridal work – because of the simple, waxy, white flowers which last well; and the alluring scent.

Compact rounded perennial with silver-grey foliage

Heavenly Scented Stocks are very easy plants to find a place for in the garden.
They form compact, rounded mounds of silky silver-grey foliage (which tells you they are well adapted to hotter, drier conditions), topped for months with the waxy, white-palest pink blooms.

Easy to grow in full sun & poorer soils – do not pamper

Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ thrives if it is not pampered.
It prefers full sun, but will also do in a little shade; prefers sandy, rocky and well drained soils or pots (hates being waterlogged); with a neutral to alkaline soil pH; does best (and lives longer) if it is kept on a lean diet – so do not overfertilize or overwater – give minimal fertilizer, if any at all.; and it is also frost and cold hardy over the winter.

Water-wise

And do not overwater – a good drink only when needed is best.
Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ is naturally adapted to hot periods and periods of dry between drinks.

Lovely in pots where you can always sniff

Heavenly Scented Stocks are divine in pots so you can move them to where you are sit frequently, or have under the bedroom window.

Durable and longer-lived version of the popular florist stocks

We normally think of Stocks as an annual plant – good for only one season.
But Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ is really a perennial, and will stay with you for several years.
Particularly if it has the well-drained, sandy or stony soil it prefers.
Though they are also very quick and easy to raise from seed – so some growers treat them as annuals, rather than perennials.
So each plant will usually produce for 3 years if cut back to it’s woody base at the end of autumn / or you can re-seed each year if you prefer.

Deer & Rabbit resistant

Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ is a deer and rabbit resistant plant, as the foliage has a bitter taste that they dislike.
It is native to hot Mediterranean areas, on rocky hillsides where sheep and goats graze – so it has adapted well to protect itself from heat, periods of dry, and grazing animals.

Magnetic scent for bees, butterflies & pollinators

Our garden friends the pollinators find the scent of Matthiola just as enticing and intoxicating as we do.
And because these are open single to semi-double flowers – they can forage easily amongst the blooms.
making the Heavenly Scented Stocks perfect companions in the veggie and fruit garden, or just wherever you want to help our declining insect population.

Edible flowers & medicinal seeds

The white waxy flowers of Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ make a delightfully sweet (and visually attractive) addition to salads, desserts and cakes and garnish for savoury dishes.
While the seeds and seed pods (more nutty and bitter in flavour) are also used for spicing savoury dishes.
The seeds also have an age-old reputation as a herbal medicine, and particularly as an aphrodisiac.
Though personally I think the seductiveness is in the fragrance.

Heavenly scented dried flowers & eco-friendly confetti

Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ makes an excellent dried flower, because it retains its colour well and scent exceptionally well.
Making it perfect for environmentally friendly confetti.
Just cut the stems, hang upside down in a dry place out of sunlight, and use as required.

Compact, evergreen perennial plant

Heavenly Scented Stocks are evergreen, perennial plants, living for several years; with silky silver evergreen foliage on a woody base.
Upright and compact 40cm. High x 30cm. Wide.
“Incana”means “grey”or “hoary”.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & kids

Seeds of Matthiola incana ‘Pillow Talk’ are very easy and reliable to germinate. 

Sow at any time indoors in punnets, whenever suitable temperatures can be provided.
OR
Scatter directly in the garden during late summer/autumn or spring/ early summer.

Sow indoors for quicker and maximum germination: First sow the seeds in a punnet or cell tray, on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then just lightly cover the seeds with sieved mix or fine vermiculite, but do not bury more than 2mm. deep.
Because these seeds need light to germinate.

Now thoroughly moisten the punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Then drain and place the punnet in a warm, well-lit position (with good light but no direct sunlight).

Temperatures of 18-24°C approx. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a heat mat to maintain suitable warmth.

Continue to keep the punnet moist by misting the punnet from a spray water bottle.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic cover will help to maintain necessary consistent moisture.

Seeds germinate in approx. 7-14 days.

Once the seedlings have developed their first true leaves, prick out of the punnet into small pots and grow on until planting out into the garden.

For Cut Flower Farmers:
Make a succession of sowings every two weeks for continuous flower production over a very long season.
Do not pinch plants out, just let them grow naturally.
Harvest stems when 1/3 to 1/2 of the florets are open, for maximum vase life.
If stems are to be stored before floristry use – the optimum bucket storage temperature in the cool room is 2-5°C.
Plants have maximum flower production if sowings are timed to flower during cool weather, before and after the heat of full summer.

Seed Count: 30 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

Click here for Nursery Open Days & Open Gardens Information
https://www.gardivalia.com.au/open-gardens

Click here to go back to Seeds Shop
https://www.seedscape.net.au/shop/